DOT: Cost of a tunnel delay – steep

The consequences of a anti-tunnel referendum will be millions of dollars of added costs, delays in opening plus added labor and expenses, State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond warned Monday.

As anti-tunnel forces claimed to have enough ballot signatures, Hammond used a letter to legislative leaders to spell out what will happen if technical agreements between the city of Seattle and Wash-DOT get held up.

“If the agreements do not go into effect next week as planned or are delayed for any reason from here forward, we estimate the cost impact to the project would be up to $54 million, and the schedule to open the tunnel would be delayed four months,” Hammond warned.

“As a result of not having enforceable agreements, design coordination of city utility relocation, issuance of city permits and city reimbursement to the state for utility design work would not occur.”

Hammond delivered a carefully-worded prediction of still more costs should Seattle voters approve an anti-tunnel initiative in the August primary, a move certain to generate prolonged lawyering.

“If the agreements are not in effect in August when we plan to issue the notice to proceed for final design and construction, we estimate that there would be approximately $20 million in cost impacts for each month of delay,” she wrote.

“This would be in addition to the up to $54 million in added cost during preliminary design. For every month of delay, the opening of the tunnel would be delayed by one month.”

The state has committed $2.4 billion toward the tunnel, and up to $400 million from toll revenues. The Port of Seattle has also committed up to $300 million in funding.

The project is designed to replace the 1950’s-vintage Alaskan Way Viaduct. The Viaduct was seriously weakened a decade ago in the Nisqually Earthquake.

The estimates by Hammond came in response to a letter sent Thursday by legislative leaders. They were sent to Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, chair of the House Transportation Committee, and ranking Republican members of the committees, Sen. Curtis King and Rep. Mike Armstrong.

The tunnel controversy has pitted Gov. Chris Gregoire, legislative leaders and most of the Seattle City Council against Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.

The mayor’s political supporters have put money and management talents behind the anti-tunnel initiative.